Ogíjares
by Paz Rosada
The name Ogíjares meant 'sacred orchard' in both Roman and Muslim times. For many years it was a purely agricultural village. Its proximity to the city of Granada has gradually led its inhabitants to work in the service sector. To learn more about Ogijares' agricultural past, visit the Museum of Agricultural Tools.
The municipality was crossed by the Barranco de la Ricla ravine, better known as the Barranco Hondo, which was inhabited in prehistoric times. Remains have been found in the archaeological sites here and at Cerro de San Cristóbal.
During the Muslim period, the district of Ogíjares was divided into two population centres: Ogíjares Alto and Ogíjares Bajo, two villages separated by a kilometre. After the Christian conquest, the two villages merged to form Los Oxijares and then Ogíjares, with its upper and lower districts.
Things to See
One of the most interesting buildings in the village is the church of Santa Ana, located in the lower part of the village and declared a Historic-Artistic Site. Inside there is a beautiful altarpiece by Diego de Pesquera, a Spanish sculptor from the second half of the 16th century. Part of this altarpiece, an allegory of the Holy Family, is in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
The 16th-century Virgen de la Cabeza church in Barrio Alto has Mudejar elements with Renaissance touches. The Ecce Homo chapel dates from the 18th century. Also worth a visit is the convent of the Discalced Carmelites of the Holy Family, built in the early 20th century.
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Gastronomy
If you want to taste some of the most typical dishes of Ogijareño cuisine, you should try the sopa de maimones (pork soup), their tasty pork products such as black pudding, sausage or chorizo; the so-called papos viejos, traditional at Easter; and the boquerón ice cream, which is not made with anchovies, but is the ice cream of the boquerón family. The ingredients of this refreshing dessert are: milk, egg yolk, vanilla, corn flour, sugar, cinnamon stick and lemon.
Festivals
In terms of popular festivals, we must highlight the Feria Chica, which takes place in January on the day of San Sebastián, patron saint of Ogíjar; and the Feria Grande, which lasts six days and is held in September. Other important festivals in the calendar of this town in Granada are: Corpus Christi, the day of San Isidro Labrador, San Juan, San Antonio de Padua, Santa Ana, patron saint of the town, and the Virgen de las Nieves.
Lovers of flamenco singing should not miss the Festival de Cante Flamenco (Flamenco Singing Festival), which has been held every September since 1980. Important figures such as Camarón de la Isla and Fosforito have performed here.
Location
The municipality of Ogíjares is about six kilometres south of the city of Granada, it can be reached by taking the GR-44 western ring road south in direction of Motril. Take exit 135 for Ogijares.
